Page 43 of Midwinter Night's Prince

“Trust me, I know. I’ve seen you kick plenty of ass, Lawson,” Mikar told her. “It doesn’t change the fact that every one of Aveka’s goons will have clear orders to seek you out and bring you to her.”

“So maybe we let them,” Blair said.

Whoa.“What the hell?”

“Did I miss the part where we completely took leave of our senses here?” Alexius casually asked, bringing a glass of wine to his lips.

Seth looked at the empty mug of synthetic blood in his hand and grimaced. He needed something much harder for this. Although he could follow Blair’s reasoning before she said a word, her idea was still going to turn him gray.

“You said it yourself,” she told Chloe. “She’s a snake. She lets servants do her bidding until she’s certain she can get her way, then she steps in. I say we take a page out of her book. We let them take me to her, then I summon you guys to me.”

Everyone exchanged glances as they weighed the possibilities.

“You’re fucking insane,” Greer said with a hint of admiration. “I like it.”

Blair grinned, visibly pleased with herself.

“It’s a terrible plan,” Seth said, to clarify his position. He hated to see her so smug about carelessly risking her neck. Again.

It was also the best they had for now.

He straightened up. “I’ll come with you.”

“Wait, if they get both of you, there’s more chance…”

He snapped to Cat, “This isn’t up for discussion.”

Seth flinched as he watched his sister don her formal mask and lower her gaze.

Fuck.

He walked to her and lifted her chin so she met his gaze. “I value your opinion, Catarina. But I know the kind of idiotic brutes in Aveka’s employ, drunk on blood and cruelty. They’d hurt Blair simply because they can. I’m the only one who can accompany her without arousing suspicions.” He held her gaze until she nodded.

“I see. That seems logical. Sorry.”

“No apologies. You’re my sister.” Her eyes brightened as she smiled at him.

There. He hadn’t messed that interaction up as badly as he could have.

“Are you sure this is Seth?” Gwen whispered to Blair.

The other witch shrugged, visibly confused.

Seth only rolled his eyes.

“All right, preparations.” Greer was all business. “We have to craft a summoning spell—and we’re going to need extensive testing to ensure it’s foolproof, no matter the distance.”

Gwen nodded. “What do you need? We can put together a circle, and I’ll do a supply run to the Academy.”

“No way!” Blair handed the baby back to Chloe. “I’m doing the supply run. I’m dying to get my hands on decanters and potions and even fucking dead spiders.” She shot to her feet.

Another piece of the puzzle. She genuinely loved witchcraft. He hadn’t been sure, given the emphasis she put on her physical abilities and her protests about her magical ones.

Or she just liked her school.

“No spiders needed for this. But yes, a circle could strengthen the signal. Blair, you can’t represent fire, not if you’re anchoring the spell. Aveka might sense it.”

“I can ask Cece,” Gwen offered.

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